About the Center for Emerging Markets
Founded in 2010 as Emerging Markets Institute, the Cañizares Center for Emerging Markets at the SC Johnson College of Business provides thought leadership on the role of emerging markets — and emerging market multinationals — in the global economy. The center brings together preeminent practitioners and academics from around the world to develop the next generation of global business leaders and create the premier research center on the role of emerging markets in the global economy.
Mission
The Cañizares Center for Emerging Markets’ mission is to be the premier center for emerging markets worldwide, to affirm the importance of emerging markets in the global economy, and to equip leaders with the purpose, insights & tools to thrive in emerging markets.
Milestones
2010 — The Emerging Markets Institute (EMI) is founded by directors, Andrew Karolyi and Ya-Ru Chen through seed money from Robert Staley, BS ’58, MBA ’59 & Nell Cady-Kruse, BS ’84, MBA ’85.
2013 — The first class of EMI fellows graduates.
2014 — Lourdes Casanova appointed Academic Director of EMI.
2016 — The first Emerging Markets Multinationals Report is published.
2017 — Hosts the first Cornell EMI Corning Case Competition and Cornell Tech MBAs join the EMI fellows program.
2020 — EMI conducts its first strategic review, holds the first Cornell EMI Mark Mobius Pitch Competition and celebrates its 10th anniversary.
2022 — The inaugural Cañizares Alumni Award is presented to Paul Kayuma, MBA ’03.
2023 — The the inaugural Distinguished EMI Fellow is announced: Iván Duque, the former President of Colombia.
2025 — EMI is renamed as Cañizares Center for Emerging Markets and it celebrates its 15th anniversary.
Impact on Cornell MBA students
Mercedes Moran Enrique, MBA ’20 talks about her experience as a fellow with the Emerging Markets Institute at the Johnson School.
“EMI gave me the language and structure to talk about global markets, but more importantly, the experience to understand them with nuance and humility.”
Lindsey Aliksanyan, EMBA Metro NY ’25
EMI Fellow
“The Emerging Markets Institute at Johnson helped me connect with an inquisitive group of professionals who were equally invested in researching, contributing, and spreading awareness about the role and impact that emerging markets have on the global economy.”
Abdullah, Cornell Tech MBA ’23
EMI Fellow